Liriope muscari plant named &#39;LIRTP&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘LIRTP’ is a distinctive variety of  Liriope muscari  which is characterized by the combination of its tall plant height, tall inflorescence length combined with narrow leaf width, dense foliage and a purple flower color.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Liriope muscari.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Liriope disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘LIRTP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Liriope muscari, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘LIRTP’. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. ‘LIRTP’ is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.

The Liriope muscari variety ‘LIRTP’ was finally selected in 2005 in an Australian nursery in the state of New South Wales following a selection process carried out from 2002 to 2005 involving approximately 20000 seedlings of Liriope muscari cultivar ‘Big Blue’ (unpatented) production stock. ‘LIRTP’ is a seedling selection from open pollinated Liriope muscari cultivar ‘Big Blue’. ‘LIRTP’ was selected due to its tall plant height with tall inflorescence length combined with narrow leaf width, dense foliage and a purple flower color. ‘LIRTP’ was first propagated asexually by division in the state of New South Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated by division and micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘LIRTP’ variety are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

‘LIRTP’ has an upright to semi upright growth habit with a medium shoot density whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a semi upright growth habit with a medium shoot density. ‘LIRTP’ has a tall plant height (to 75 cm) whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a medium-tall plant height (to 65 cm). ‘LIRTP’ has a narrow-medium leaf width (mean 7 mm) whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a broad leaf width (mean 12 mm).

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘LIRTP’ has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted in 27 March 2006 under Application No. 2006/036.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘LIRTP’ is a distinctive variety of Liriope muscari which is characterized by the combination of its tall plant height, tall inflorescence length combined with narrow leaf width, dense foliage and a purple flower color corresponding to violet (RHS 86B).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ‘LIRTP’ plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Liriope muscari ornamental plant known as ‘LIRTP’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made in February 2006 of mature ‘LIRTP’ plants grown in nursery pots.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘LIRTP’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1995 edition. Note that generic color descriptions such as ‘pink’ do not exist in the RHS charts and ‘purple’ color may be referred to more specifically by the corresponding RHS colors quoted.

‘LIRTP’ is a perennial Liriope muscari plant which is a seedling selection from a Liriope muscari cultivar ‘Big Blue’. After its selection, ‘LIRTP’ was asexually propagated by division and then by micropropagation. ‘LIRTP’ has a green leaf color and purple flowers displayed above the foliage.

These features and other characteristics are apparent from the description provided below.

-   Growth habit, dimensions and color: ‘LIRTP’ is a tall plant forming     an upright clump with slightly spreading leaves and arching and     weeping leaves as the foliage matures. Average plant height is to 75     cm and average plant spread is to 85 cm in a mature plant grown in a     garden in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (observed January     2007). A representative ‘LIRTP’ plant is shown in FIG. 1. The upper     side of the mature leaf is yellow green in color (observed     January 2007) corresponding to approximately RHS 147A. Leaf margins     and mid ribs do not contrast prominently with the leaf blade. The     leaf lower side color corresponds to the upper leaf side but has a     less glossy surface texture. The leaf width is narrow-medium (mean     7.2 mm), and reaches an average length of 31 cm. The leaf shape is     ligulate-ensiform, leaf base is cauline, leaf margin is entire, leaf     apex is acute and leaf surface texture is glossy and glabrous. The     leaf venation pattern is parallel; the color is the same as the rest     of the leaf. The leaf attitude is erect to semi erect with arching     and weeping of foliage at maturity. -   Roots: The roots of ‘LIRTP’ are colored white (approximately RHS     155C) and fleshy and thick, similar to other Liriope muscari. -   Inflorescence: The inflorescence is a raceme with flowers borne in     clusters of typically 4 or 5 and reducing in number near the apex.     Each flower cluster consists of pedicellate flowers ranging from     very a short pedicel length (almost sessile; less than 1 mm) to up     to 5 mm long. Inflorescence length is approximately 30 cm on average     and the raceme position is mainly above the foliage at anthesis.     Raceme length is 10-15 cm typically with flower clusters prominent     along most of the emerged peduncle. Peduncle color is yellow green     (approximately RHS 148A) turning to grayed green (RHS 197A). Each     flower cluster is subtended by a small bract colored yellow green     (approximately RHS 146A). Pedicel color is violet (RHS 83D). The     flowering season in Sydney, NSW, Australia is early December until     Late February. -   Flowers: Flower bud color is violet (approximately RHS 86A). Mature     petal color is violet (RHS 86B). Anthers are yellow (RHS 6D) and     stigma is violet (RHS 83D). Flower diameter is approximately 7 mm     when fully opened. -   Comparison of lirf with other varieties of liriope muscari: ‘LIRTP’     has a narrower leaf width (mean 7.2 mm) and very dense foliage     compared to common Liriope muscari which has a medium leaf width     (mean 8 mm) and medium density foliage. ‘LIRTP’ has a narrow leaf     width (mean 7.2 mm) and very dense foliage whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a     broad leaf width (mean 12.1 mm) and medium density foliage. ‘LIRTP’     has a ‘purple’ looking flower color (corresponding to violet RHS     86B) whereas ‘Big Blue’ has a ‘lighter purple’ looking flower color     (corresponding to violet RHS 83C). ‘LIRTP’ has tall, prominent     inflorescences displaying flowers predominantly above the foliage     whereas ‘Big Blue’ has less prominent inflorescences displaying     flowers predominantly within the foliage. ‘LIRTP’ differs from the     variety ‘Bigun’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,474) as it has a taller     plant height (to 75 cm), narrower leaf width (mean 7.2 mm), an     absence of leaf twisting and darker purple flower color     (corresponding to violet RHS 86B) whereas ‘Bigun’ has a medium plant     height (to 60 cm), broad leaf width (to 18 mm), leaf twisting     present and lighter colored flowers corresponding to violet blue RHS     92A. ‘LIRTP’ differs from the variety ‘Royal Purple’ (unpatented) as     it has a narrower leaf width (mean 7.2 mm), strong shoot density,     tall inflorescence height (30 cm) with flowers mainly above the     foliage and long raceme length (10-15 cm) whereas ‘Royal Purple’ has     a broad leaf width (mean 12 mm), weak shoot density, medium     inflorescence height (15 cm) with flowers displaying slightly above     the foliage and short raceme length (approximately 8 cm). The     combination of its tall plant height, tall inflorescence length     combined with narrow leaf width, dense foliage and a purple flower     color (corresponding to violet RHS 86B) makes ‘LIRTP’ a desirable     ornamental plant suited for mass production for pot and landscape     use. -   Asexual reproduction: After its initial discovery, ‘LIRTP’ was     transplanted into a 140 mm pot for further trials and testing. After     divisions were made for several subsequent generations, ‘LIRTP’ was     observed to retain color and size characteristics that were noted in     the original ‘LIRTP’ seedling. Divisions of ‘LIRTP’ root within 2 to     3 weeks. ‘LIRTP’ was divided into several pots for further     evaluation. Potting mix used contained 50% sand and 50% peat. Plants     were divided into 90 mm×50 mm×50 mm tubes. ‘LIRTP’ has been     propagated in vitro using micropropagation and has been observed to     reproduce from generation to generation in a uniform and stable     manner maintaining original color and size characteristics. -   Environmental tolerances: ‘LIRTP’ has typical shade tolerance for     the species and performed the same as the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’     in garden trials at Clarendon, NSW, Australia. The winter hardiness     of ‘LIRTP’ is at least to zone 5A in the United States, and     evaluation of winter hardiness is ongoing. ‘LIRTP’ has drought     tolerance similar to the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’ with moderate to     good recovery with watering after severe wilting. ‘LIRTP’ survived     and grew well over 2 years in garden trials in sandy and clay soils,     but also tolerates heavy, clay-type soils at Clarendon, NSW,     Australia. -   Disease resistance: ‘LIRTP’ has typical resistance to fungal and     bacterial pathogens compared to other similar Liriope muscari     cultivars as demonstrated in garden trials with survival and growth     vigor similar to the variety ‘Evergreen Giant’ at Clarendon, NSW,     Australia. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Liriope muscari plant named ‘LIRTP’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 